Schumer to push for increased police force in Newburgh

Tuesday

Jul 1, 2014 at 7:59 AMJul 1, 2014 at 8:09 AM

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer will announce Tuesday a project to increase the police force in Newburgh through what he calls "a two-pronged push."

A federal program designed to hire more police officers needs to be altered to aid smaller cities like Newburgh with higher crime rates, according to Schumer, who will announce the changes he plans to drive at 12:30 p.m. at Newburgh Police Headquarters.

Schumer will also pledge to support Newburgh in applying for the federal program, called the COPS Hiring Program.

Newburgh's police force has declined from 125 officers in 2000 to less than 80 officers today, according to Schumer.

More to come at recordonline.com, and read more about this story in Wednesday's Times Herald-Record.